OUT ON THE STREETS........ (an update from Mike Jessop)

A big thankyou to all who turned out on Friday 29th January to witness the commissioning of the Boston Street Pastors and to Prayerfully send us on our way.

I have been surprised and encouraged how we have been received by the revellers.  Apart from a car load of jeering teenagers (and I’m sure it wasn’t personal!) we have met some very positive comments.  One girl asked why we had taken so long to set up in Boston and others have welcomed our presence on the streets.  Another two girls, carrying their high-heeled shoes, called to us, “hey, it’s the Street Pastors! Can we have some flip-flops, please!”  The mood is friendly and open.  And yes, they do want to talk about faith.

I am ashamed to be surprised because the whole initiative has been flooded with Prayer, from the Churches, homes and support room at the CCTV centre.  Without prayer we would simply be wandering the streets as onlookers.  With prayer, we are part of the street scene.  The doormen actually greet us each time we pass their clubs and they could be our fiercest critics.  We are, after all, invading their turf.  They are in charge and we could be seen as a threat.  But no, we are learning their names and we need to gain their trust so that they call upon us to diffuse situations. 

The police were involved with a fight that had broken out after a troublemaker had been evicted from a club.  I say fight in the loosest sense of the word, because the ringleader could hardly stand and if he had thrown a punch I am sure he would have fallen over!  But that situation left several confused mates standing around wondering what was going to happen next, and they were only too pleased for us to engage them in conversation and to help diffuse a potential problem.

A girl tearfully left a kebab shop after a row with her boyfriend.  He clearly was going to leave her as she slid down the shop window and was sitting on the cold pavement.  Jane knelt down beside her with a comforting hand on her shoulder.  It wasn’t long before the boyfriend returned and the reconciliation began.

In response to a comment from me,“Tank”, the doorman at the Prospect, shouted to me “Never say it is QUIET!  (It is not busy) That invites trouble!”   It reminded me of my duty in Lincoln when two men spilled out of a pub hurling abuse at each other, saw us, turned and walked quietly away.  I would like to replace that word quiet with peace, and maybe that is what God is calling us to bring to the streets of Boston .  Time and Prayer will tell.

There is some confusion as to what we are asking for when asking for Prayer Supporters.  Street Pastors (4) and Prayer Supporters (at least 3) meet at the CCTV office in West Street at 10pm on a Friday night.  We have a cosy room (an old Police cell!) with kitchenette and loo, where we all have a time of Prayer before the Street Pastors go out at 10.30pm.  The Street Pastors phone in at least every half hour (more often if there is something specific to pray about) listing things to pray for.  The Prayer Supporters keep a log book which becomes a permanent record of our activities, and pray for those out there and the people of Boston .  Around midnight the Street Pastors return for a warm and a cuppa and, again, pray before we go out.  At the end of the shift, around 3am, we phone in for the Prayer Supporters to put the kettle on, debrief and pray before returning home to bed.  If you would like to give it a try, there is no training necessary, and you meet a nice bunch of people!  We welcome as much prayer as possible, so please pray at home, and for you who find yourselves wandering around home unable to sleep, please spare a thought and prayer for us on a Friday night.          

 God Bless, Mike